STURTEVANT S NOTES ON EDIBLE PLANTS 25 



people.* It has been introduced into the West Indies and various parts of South 

 America.^ 



Adenophora communis Fisch. Campanulaceae. 



Eastern Europe. The root is thick and esculent.' 



Adiantum capillus-veneris Linn. Polypodiaceae. capillaire. dudder grass, maiden- 

 hair FERN. VENUS' HAIR. 



Northern temperate climates. In the Isles of Arran, off the Galway coast of Britain, 

 the inhabitants collect the fronds of this fern, dry them and use them as a substitute 

 for tea.* 



Aeginetia indica Linn. Orobanchaceae. 



Tropics of Asia. An annual, leafless, parasitic herb, growing on the roots of various 

 grasses in India and the Indian Archipelago. Prepared with sugar and nutmeg, it is 

 there eaten as an antiscorbutic' 



Aegle marmelos Correa. Rutaceae. ball tree, bela tree, bengal quince, golden 



APPLE. 



East Indies. The Bengal quince is held in great veneration by the Hindus. It is 

 sacred to Siva whose worship cannot be accomplished without its leaves. It is incumbent 

 on all Hindus to cultivate and cherish this tree and it is sacrilegious to up-root or cut it 

 down. The Hindoo who expires under a bela tree expects to obtain immediate salva- 

 tion.' The tenacious pulp of the fruit is used in India for sherbet and to form a conserve.' 

 Roxburgh observes that the fruit when ripe is delicious to the taste and exquisitely fra- 

 grant. Horsfield ' says it is considered by the Javanese to be very astringent in quality. 

 The Bengal quince is grown in some of the gardens of Cairo. The perfvuned pulp within 

 the ligneous husk makes excellent marmalade. The orange-like fruit is very palatable 

 and possesses aperient qualities.' 



Aegopodium podagraria Linn. Umbelliferae. ashweed. bishop's-weed. goutweed. 



ground ash. herb GERARD. 



Europe and adjoining Asia. Lightfoot '" says the young leaves are eaten in the spring 

 in Sweden and Switzerland as greens. It is mentioned by Gerarde." In France it is an 

 inmate of the flower garden, especially a variety with variegated leaves. 



Lunan, J. Hort. Jam. 1:7. 1814. 



' Hooker, W. J. Journ. Bot. 4:343- 1842. 



Johns, C. A. Treas. Bot. i:ig. 1870. {A. Uliifolia) 



Johnson, C. P. Useful Pis. Ct. Brit. 295. 1862. 

 Black, A. A. Treas. Bot. 1:23. 1870. 



Dutt, U. C. Mat. Med. Hindus 129. 1877. 

 ' Brandis, D. Forest Fl. 57. 1874. 



Ainslie, W. Mat. Ind. 2:188. 1826. 



Card. Chron. 746. 1875. 



" Lightfoot, J. Fl. Scot. 1:170. 1789. 

 John."!, C. A. Treas. Bot. i :23. 1870. 



